The Commissioner of Police in Benue State Police, Tunji Akingbola on Thursday disclosed that what is threatening the peace and security of the state is the conflicts between farmers and herdsmen.
According to CP Akingbola, despite sustained efforts and collaboration between security agencies, the state government and other community stakeholders, the trend is yet to abate.
The Benue police boss who was briefing journalist for the first time in his office, listed local government areas that are mostly affected by constant farmers/herders clashes to include Guma, Gwer West, Agatu, Logo, Apa, Otukpo, Ohimini, Obi, Ado, Okpowku, Ogbadibo, Kwande and Makurdi.
Asides herders/farmers clash, CP Akingbola further identified vandalisation of critical infrastructure especially railway slippers, local militia gangs, cultism, kidnapping, armed robbery, humanitarian challenges, violent communal clashes and illicit arms/ drug trafficking as other vices that have continued to threaten the peace of the state.
However, the CP declared that his vision is to leave behind a solid infrastructural base for the people of the state by putting in place a combination of kinetic and non kinetic strategies to discourage people from crime and criminality.
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He said, “Already, some of these measures have been activated and are yielding some appreciable degree of success on its path.
“The measures which are in line with the management objectives of the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, include constructive engagement and community partnerships, public campaigns and advocacy, intelligence led policing.”
He also listed other measures as recovery of illegal firearms and light weapons, zero tolerance for corruption and respect for human rights.
The CP said since assumption of office, his achievement include rescue of a kidnapped victim, arrest and death of two suspected kidnappers, arrest of suspected bandits, arrest of railway vandals and recovery of railway slippers.
He gave account of how suspected armed robbers and cultists were arrested, and firearms and ammunition were also recovered from them.
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